Financial Planning articles
Negative Gearing: How It Works
Whether you choose to call it an investment tool or a tax strategy, there is little room for debate as to the popularity of negative gearing. For those people who are interested in owning investment real estate such as rentals and could also benefit from a solid tax shelter, it...
Saving For Your Home Deposit: Tips, Tricks and Bright Ideas
Congratulations! You are finally on your way to home ownership! Now comes the seemingly daunting task of saving up for the initial down payment. Although this can be a fairly sizable amount of money, there is no reason to be intimidated. Taken a bit at a time, and with a...
Granny Flat Strategy: Top 7 Considerations
There is little doubt that Granny flats have become a popular real estate investment strategy in Australia. When executed properly, the investor can realize a significant profit from the strategy while making increased headway on their mortgage. However, those who fail to consider all of the factors that come into...
DRIPs: The Pros and Cons of Dividend Reinvestment Plans
The acronym does not exactly conjure images of powerful investment strategies. That being said, DRIPs, or dividend reinvestment plans, can factor nicely into your financial planning strategy. Simply stated, these plans reinvest the paid dividends as opposed to receiving a cash payment. This can be very beneficial, depending on your...
Australian Banks Forced to Reduce Property Loans Due to Strict New Loan Standards
New loan standards put forward by the APRA (Australian Prudential Regulation Authority) last month have forced banks to cherry pick individuals that want to purchase homes in Australia. The tougher new loan standards were put in place to let off some steam in the booming property market.
The new standards required...
Why You Should Use a Buyers Agent
In the highly competitive Sydney property market, investors need every edge they can get and using a buyer's agent is one way of doing so.
Unlike a real-estate agent who acts in the best interests of the seller, a buyer's agent is a person...
The Alternative to the Age Old Question of Renting vs Buying
With house prices outpacing wage growth and reaching new highs all across Sydney, many of us are starting to question how great the Australian dream of owning your own home really is and if it is even possible.
However, many force themselves to see...
How To Avoid Land Tax for Properties
Why Australian Banks Need to Hold Additional Capital Reserves?
APRA (Australian Prudential Regulation Authority) had announced that it would raise average risk weightings for property loans by 4% from 16% to 25% from 1st July 2016. The move by the financial and banking regulating authority in Australia will increase capital reserve requirements by an average of about 80 basis...
